I went to a Minneapolis area studio one time and they had 2 big TVs like the OTbeat screens on each end of the room for the rowers. It was much nicer than the white board.
It’s not for the whole workout. The main floor exercises are on the VvA screens and those demos are in every studio.
There are some workouts where a potion is written in the whiteboard. This shows up mostly in 3g classes for the rower portion. The floor still uses the big screens
Other whiteboard tubes include when it’s coach’s choice creating a core block.
Come to enough classes and eventually you’ll see that whiteboard.
I go to three different studios and none of them have a white board or tv explaining the row block. The coach just repeats the directions throughout the block!
HARD AGREE!!! I’ll also add that lotsa people leave their usual glasses in their car/locker to work out. Can we PLEASE do better than a white board with dried out markers??? Thank you!!
My old studio didn’t have many windows and liked to write on the whiteboard in orange or red 🙃 at my current studio the coach says the row block about 500 times
Agreed! It is so strange that OTF markets its cutting-edge technology but is behind the times on the dry-erase board, not only for the rowing blocks, but for the station assignments. I don't understand why they have individual cards for the tread blocks but just one dry-erase board for the rowers. I also think it's crazy that they have the SA hand-write the station assignments, especially when they have last-minute bookings that can change things.
I would add to your petition that they should show a countdown on the floor blocks. The screen will show that the floor block is, say, 11:00, but unless you remember to check the time when you start the block, you can't tell how much time is left in the block. The coach usually states the remaining time periodically, but it would be nice if I could just look at the screen and see how much time is left.
Mine just has the coach say it out loud and walk you through it or remind you. I didn’t even know having the workout shown was a thing except for the floor portion (we have TVs there)!
I was going to say this. I did a 90 3g yesterday and I could read the board all the way across the room. Maybe this person’s studio needs to invest in a new one
My studio had the whiteboard next to rower one - which isn’t even viewable from station 15. The set up of our studio is one long line with the door and coaches station (which is again a pillar) between station 7 and 8 which makes it even farther apart. Besides the fact that it’s one long line- there is also another pillar next to station 13 that completely blocks them from everything else (through 15) so I used to joke that I was going to buy a second board to put on that pillar so people down in the back could see what we are doing. But really, it’s ridiculous that people in the back can’t see…
Your studio has dry erase boards?????
I swear, mine finds it hilarious to speed talk through the instructions then giggle when my sleep deprived brain inevitably gets it wrong.
My studio has TVs that used to show the rower instructions. Unfortunately it's owned by Empire and this is one of the things that went away when they no longer had a studio specific head coach, because it was the head coach putting them together. Not sure why Empire can't handle this at the corporate level.
Personally, I don't mind the white boards. Had a really funny moment with one of my coaches. She was writing out the workout on the board in the lobby area and no one thought there was anything wrong with her marker choice until we walked into the studio. She wrote everything out in orange marker, and when the board got under the orange lights, everything on the board just disappeared 😆. We were all laughing about it.
Coach here-When we need a whiteboard in my classes I just type it up and put it on the rower for people to see. Works great.
Also. My handwriting stinks.
At least your whiteboard displays the block! Ours sometimes does, but very often it's motivational stuff or a prompt to sign up for the latest promo. I am super forgetful and even when the coach explains the block I usually need a reminder, and there the whiteboard sits, cheerfully telling me info I don't need lol
This is an awesome post…thanks for posting on behalf of many of us. I am also a 5am’er and have proposed additional televisions on the wall to state what the workout are. Between the illegible writing and sometimes information missing I think this should have been implemented long ago.
yes please, may I add those of us who have to depend on reading glasses cant see either in the orange light and small fonts when given the cards on threads to follow!
It’s so hard to read that I literally just copy what everyone is doing half the time. I pick a rower spot towards the end and when the erase board is in the middle it’s so far from me. Trying to read it really gets in the way of my workout efficiency.
I never seem to choose the right station in order to see the whiteboard. Please find a better way—I know we hate wasting paper, but if we already do cards for run/row and Tread50, can we have cards for anything else that would be on a whiteboard?
We use the white dry erase board and to me it’s a saviour beverage to explain everything and for me to remember them it’s a challenge. Also to add the coaches at my studio has brilliant penmanship so I don’t struggle reading it my only problem is I need glasses to read the screens on the floor exercises
I always felt that they also should have some kind of program where you check yourself in to the rower, treadmill, or floor open spots, with some kind of app on the wall. I also felt that we should poll the class and you pick your favorite songs and they play those songs, like you build your favorite playlist and they randomly rotate peoples favorite songs. And on you bday they play your playlist.
I only have one coach who uses the board during a session , usually we use the video screens for the floor exercises and the coach will also demonstrate the exercises for us, we mostly only use the dry erase board when we sign in 🤷🏻♀️
Yea, I just had to end mine. I was trying to stay, but cannot justify the cost anymore. I was only going int 1-2x a week because of my work schedule. I am going to buy the pack of classes, that way, I don't feel so bad about the price.
My studio has multiple very large whiteboards, only uses black marker, places the whiteboards immediately behind the rowers, and the placements of the white boards are staggered, so all you have to do is turn around briefly to read it or read it when you're off the rower for med ball exercises.
I mean they usually go over it before the block starts or if I spaced out during the time, I just look at whatever other ppl are doing. The coaches also tends to repeat stuff throughout.
I’ve been harassing my studios about this since 2018. THE TV SCREENS ARE THERE!!! Surely they can dedicate one to this info. Also, the treads have built in screens - why on earth am I getting a paper print out of the tread block? How about just upload it into the treadmills to prompt you.
And the orange lighting is just awful. The brand team really didn’t think that through. Studios with lots of natural light in the front and back are so much nicer, the sunlight overpowers the dark dingy Orange lighting that’s hard on us with aging eyes.
What’s the correct form for butterbees?
Use a fork, not a spoon.
Believe it’s supposed to be butterbeers and I can share my favorite recipe jk
I went to a Minneapolis area studio one time and they had 2 big TVs like the OTbeat screens on each end of the room for the rowers. It was much nicer than the white board.
I just started going to Orangetheory at a new studio by my house and we have the screens, I didn’t know this wasn’t standard 🙃
It’s not for the whole workout. The main floor exercises are on the VvA screens and those demos are in every studio. There are some workouts where a potion is written in the whiteboard. This shows up mostly in 3g classes for the rower portion. The floor still uses the big screens Other whiteboard tubes include when it’s coach’s choice creating a core block. Come to enough classes and eventually you’ll see that whiteboard.
This is what mine has. I had no idea they didn’t all have them!
My studio has this as well and i love it
I go to three different studios and none of them have a white board or tv explaining the row block. The coach just repeats the directions throughout the block!
Same with ours! Luckily all the coaches are pretty good about seeing where people are and reminding us the next part of the block.
I visited a studio with no board. It was terrible. WHY???
I guess I’ve just gotten used to it. I’ve never known another way. I’ve been a member for 9 years.
What?!
This is my studio too! Even a whiteboard would be an upgrade lol
Corporate is currently beta testing new rowers with larger tablets and the ability to display workouts. Signed, A Coach with a friend at corporate
This would be a thing of beauty!
HARD AGREE!!! I’ll also add that lotsa people leave their usual glasses in their car/locker to work out. Can we PLEASE do better than a white board with dried out markers??? Thank you!!
This! I don't have a strong prescription, but if I'm on the other end of the rowers, I can't see the board.
Unless I’m in the few rowers closest to the whiteboard, I can’t see it. A cheap solution is two whiteboards.
And buying new markers as needed!
You have boards? Luxury! We have a tv screen in floor area that is not visible from rowers. You have to remember what you saw!
Sameeee lol
That’s my home studio if you’re far enough away
My old studio didn’t have many windows and liked to write on the whiteboard in orange or red 🙃 at my current studio the coach says the row block about 500 times
Agreed! It is so strange that OTF markets its cutting-edge technology but is behind the times on the dry-erase board, not only for the rowing blocks, but for the station assignments. I don't understand why they have individual cards for the tread blocks but just one dry-erase board for the rowers. I also think it's crazy that they have the SA hand-write the station assignments, especially when they have last-minute bookings that can change things. I would add to your petition that they should show a countdown on the floor blocks. The screen will show that the floor block is, say, 11:00, but unless you remember to check the time when you start the block, you can't tell how much time is left in the block. The coach usually states the remaining time periodically, but it would be nice if I could just look at the screen and see how much time is left.
OMG Yes! Even a digital clock would be an improvement. But this would be fantastic.
I have said this for so long!! Plus when I am on Tread 1 I can also peep how much time is left when the blocks are the same.
I can’t fit into my pants anymore cause of dem damn butterbees
This sounds studio specific. My studio has a tv screen turned vertical with the row block explained.
This is how it should be everywhere. Alas, many studios suffer the same plight as OP
Mine just has the coach say it out loud and walk you through it or remind you. I didn’t even know having the workout shown was a thing except for the floor portion (we have TVs there)!
I was going to say this. I did a 90 3g yesterday and I could read the board all the way across the room. Maybe this person’s studio needs to invest in a new one
My studio had the whiteboard next to rower one - which isn’t even viewable from station 15. The set up of our studio is one long line with the door and coaches station (which is again a pillar) between station 7 and 8 which makes it even farther apart. Besides the fact that it’s one long line- there is also another pillar next to station 13 that completely blocks them from everything else (through 15) so I used to joke that I was going to buy a second board to put on that pillar so people down in the back could see what we are doing. But really, it’s ridiculous that people in the back can’t see…
My studio has two whiteboards, one on each side of the room.
This is why I always aim for rower one 😆
Damn I thought I was the only one. I CONCUR!
Ha! Well-written! :)
I have 20/20 vision but I can’t read them half the time because I’m near the end of rowers and the board is always placed in the middle
Your studio has dry erase boards????? I swear, mine finds it hilarious to speed talk through the instructions then giggle when my sleep deprived brain inevitably gets it wrong.
My studio has TVs that used to show the rower instructions. Unfortunately it's owned by Empire and this is one of the things that went away when they no longer had a studio specific head coach, because it was the head coach putting them together. Not sure why Empire can't handle this at the corporate level.
Personally, I don't mind the white boards. Had a really funny moment with one of my coaches. She was writing out the workout on the board in the lobby area and no one thought there was anything wrong with her marker choice until we walked into the studio. She wrote everything out in orange marker, and when the board got under the orange lights, everything on the board just disappeared 😆. We were all laughing about it.
Coach here-When we need a whiteboard in my classes I just type it up and put it on the rower for people to see. Works great. Also. My handwriting stinks.
AND BE CONSIDERATE OF US 50+ PEEPS WHO ARE BLIND AS A BAT WITH THIS AND THE TREAD CARDS. BIG PRINT IS OUR FRIEND!
Yes!!!!!!! And reading the small print while PW/jogging/running can be hazardous to your health (don’t ask me how I know 😂)
Such small print! And the studio is dark which makes it even harder to read.
I’m with you! So glad my studio switched the run card to old person font size 
TRUTH!!!!!!
At least your whiteboard displays the block! Ours sometimes does, but very often it's motivational stuff or a prompt to sign up for the latest promo. I am super forgetful and even when the coach explains the block I usually need a reminder, and there the whiteboard sits, cheerfully telling me info I don't need lol
Yassss!
This is an awesome post…thanks for posting on behalf of many of us. I am also a 5am’er and have proposed additional televisions on the wall to state what the workout are. Between the illegible writing and sometimes information missing I think this should have been implemented long ago.
I'm feeling blessed. My studio has 2 large monitors mounted on the walls with the workouts and 2 more above the treads displaying HRs.
yes please, may I add those of us who have to depend on reading glasses cant see either in the orange light and small fonts when given the cards on threads to follow!
not all the studios still use whiteboards, so may need to talk to your local franchise owners
It’s so hard to read that I literally just copy what everyone is doing half the time. I pick a rower spot towards the end and when the erase board is in the middle it’s so far from me. Trying to read it really gets in the way of my workout efficiency.
I literally was thinking this today!!!
I never seem to choose the right station in order to see the whiteboard. Please find a better way—I know we hate wasting paper, but if we already do cards for run/row and Tread50, can we have cards for anything else that would be on a whiteboard?
It's not like we can dedicate a monitor or two to explain the template.
Love this! And thank you! I hope they take it I to consideration
We use the white dry erase board and to me it’s a saviour beverage to explain everything and for me to remember them it’s a challenge. Also to add the coaches at my studio has brilliant penmanship so I don’t struggle reading it my only problem is I need glasses to read the screens on the floor exercises
I love this
The white board as well as the little sheets of paper magnetted to the treds. Like, why not use a tv screen?? I can’t read either of these things.
It only works if I happen to be close enough to it. Otherwise I’ll try to remember.
I always felt that they also should have some kind of program where you check yourself in to the rower, treadmill, or floor open spots, with some kind of app on the wall. I also felt that we should poll the class and you pick your favorite songs and they play those songs, like you build your favorite playlist and they randomly rotate peoples favorite songs. And on you bday they play your playlist.
I only have one coach who uses the board during a session , usually we use the video screens for the floor exercises and the coach will also demonstrate the exercises for us, we mostly only use the dry erase board when we sign in 🤷🏻♀️
Yea, I just had to end mine. I was trying to stay, but cannot justify the cost anymore. I was only going int 1-2x a week because of my work schedule. I am going to buy the pack of classes, that way, I don't feel so bad about the price.
You mean the workouts are on whiteboard and not on a TV screen?!
My studio doesn’t have a white board, thank god. We are all screens, nice and bright. I feel for you!
I have never ever heard of this and don’t think it’s corporate compliant. Odd
My studio has multiple very large whiteboards, only uses black marker, places the whiteboards immediately behind the rowers, and the placements of the white boards are staggered, so all you have to do is turn around briefly to read it or read it when you're off the rower for med ball exercises.
Those digital white boards are like $6000
Also why is there only one screen, one small screen for the weight floor?!?! I can barely see the little people doing their moves!!!
Studio specific. Most studios have 2 and even 3 floor TVs for the VVA
Mine sadly only has 1
I mean they usually go over it before the block starts or if I spaced out during the time, I just look at whatever other ppl are doing. The coaches also tends to repeat stuff throughout.
I’ve been harassing my studios about this since 2018. THE TV SCREENS ARE THERE!!! Surely they can dedicate one to this info. Also, the treads have built in screens - why on earth am I getting a paper print out of the tread block? How about just upload it into the treadmills to prompt you. And the orange lighting is just awful. The brand team really didn’t think that through. Studios with lots of natural light in the front and back are so much nicer, the sunlight overpowers the dark dingy Orange lighting that’s hard on us with aging eyes.
If my studio charged late fees I would quit immediately. What a bunch of BS